Eye On Council

I am very excited for this weekend’s city supported hackathon kicking off on Friday night at START Houston and then picking back up on Saturday morning at the Houston Technology Center. Over the 24 hour period, civic minded hackers will be able to pitch ideas, form teams, and help build tools to help our communities. Some of the websites and apps that we hope to see come out of this weekend are: the gamification of the 311 service request process, a business license renewal reminder tool for operators, an economic development targeting app, an urban gardens map of our city, and so much more. There are 25 suggested projects at www.houstonhackathon.com – there you can also register for the event and join over 200 others already slated to attend. Continue Reading »

I want to thank each of you for your votes today to pass our vulnerable road users ordinance. Mayor, thank you for your leadership on this issue and for the hard work that was put in by Laura Spanjian, James Koski, and your entire team. The protections our city now offers to vulnerable users put Houston in line with 39 other states in the country. The way that Houstonians commute is changing, as we see this shift, it is important that we instill a new transportation culture for all Houstonians. ‘Safe Passing’ will protect all users of our roads and is a key component to our continued push towards a ‘Complete Streets’ policy. Continue Reading »

I’d like to begin today by saluting our Houston Firefighters. Over the last weekend, they experienced one of their busiest times since the Ice Storm of 2011. From Friday through Sunday, HFD responded to 3128 calls. Saturday’s 1339 calls for service equate to almost 1 call per minute over the entire 24 hour period. Continue Reading »

The changes that we approved today to our development code (Chapter 42) will certainly have an impact on many of our communities. I am committed to educating District H neighborhoods about their options as we move forward with implementing these revisions. I would like to commend our community members, industry members, and other stakeholders that have worked on this issue over the last six years. I know that we still have work to do and am looking forward to visiting Chapter 9, implementing a Complete Streets policy, and continuing to work with our neighborhoods to implement sound public policy. Today’s vote is a positive step in continuing to make Houston the leading global city of the 21st century. Continue Reading »

I would like to begin by offering a special thank you to Kendall Baker and his team at 3-1-1. Last week, Kendall and team-members Davida Taylor & Zenia Velazquez visited with the Melrose Park and Denver Harbor communities in District H. I truly appreciate their assistance and their commitment to community outreach. Residents benefited from an overview of our 3-1-1 call center and had an opportunity to ask questions. Kendall, Davida, and Zenia are all fantastic representatives of our city, and once more, I thank them. Continue Reading »

I’m already looking forward to Houston ‘Complete Streets’ Week which is kicking off on April 13. I want to commend you, Mayor Parker, for your Administration’s commitment to bringing forth a ‘Complete Streets’ policy for our city. Streets that are safe for all users at all times throughout Houston must be our priority. Continue Reading »

It is with great sadness that I ask all of you to join me in a moment of silence for the passing of Mr. Joe Padilla. Mr. Padilla and his wife Theresa have been synonymous with the Denver Harbor community for decades. Mr. Padilla’s leadership in the neighborhood always stemmed from a desire to improve the quality of life in the community and to provide for the children of Denver Harbor. Continue Reading »

I am thrilled to be participating in tomorrow’s Sobering Center ribbon cutting ceremony at 11AM. The grand opening will take place at 150 N. Chenevert and it is the culmination of much hard work by Mayor Parker and her team. I am pleased to have been an early proponent of this concept and have been excited to advocate for its creation, funding, and now, for its operation. I know that this diversion will not only save dollars, but will also impact our criminal justice system in a positive manner. Continue Reading »

Mayor & Colleagues – once more, I’d like to begin this morning by thanking and acknowledging two City of Houston employees who have gone above and beyond for the residents of District H. Mr. Jarrad Mears, Animal Control Manager, and Mr. Christopher Miller, Senior Animal Control Officer, responded to a call by a senior citizen in Denver Harbor over the weekend. They assisted the constituent by placing a trap for a wild dog that had started to make itself at home on her property. Continue Reading »

This morning, I would like to take some time to acknowledge and thank City of Houston employees: Benjamin Hernandez, Lisandra Lamboy, Jon-Michael Gillispie, Barry Barnes, Amber David, Marlene McNesse-Ward & Cathy Wiley. These talented folks played pivotal roles in making the Health & Human Services Department’s booth at the Houston Hispanic Forum a success. Continue Reading »